The delicate balance created by the NHL’s crash-course training camps came to a head yesterday.

Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards wants more energy and contact out of his players, which is why he stopped an intrasquad scrimmage only four minutes in to send a message to his players. The season opener is Saturday at Nashville, and the scrimmage wasn’t anywhere near “game” pace when it started.

“I didn’t like the intensity,” Richards said. “We have standards; we have expectations. It has to be higher. I think it got better after that.”

NHL training camps are one week long this season after a 113-day lockout, which has shortened the season to 48 games. The rush is on to be up to speed by Saturday. Then again, Richards finds himself pulling back on the throttle to avoid injuries or fatigue. Only four days into training camp, both are becoming an issue.

Right winger Cam Atkinson, expected to play a top-six role, was held out of camp yesterday with what Richards called a “minor lower-body issue.” Asked if Atkinson could miss the opener, Richards said: “I’m not concerned, no.”

Richards cut yesterday’s camp session in half and said he was considering avoiding an on-ice practice today entirely. The club will definitely skate on Friday.

“I felt like we were coming down off the peak we were climbing (the first two days of camp),” Richards said. “I thought today we plateaued a little, or maybe started on our way down. Going into Friday, I want to make sure we’re going up energy-wise, enthusiasm-wise.”

This could be an ominous sign for a Blue Jackets club that hopes to outwork opponents and play a gritty, high-energy style.

Message received

On Tuesday, Richards said rookie center Boone Jenner was avoiding contact because he had “too much respect” for his teammates. It was a sugarcoated way to motivate the physical 19 year old.

And it worked.

Jenner was noticeably more engaged yesterday, to the point where some veteran players were getting irritated.

“He took what I had to say to heart, and he went out and showed it,” Richards said. “It bothered a couple of players, but that was a good thing. That’s fine. It got them going, too.”

Decision time

The Blue Jackets have 25 players in camp. They must get their roster to 23 by 3 p.m. Friday, but general manager Scott Howson said they wouldn’t wait that long. The moves could come today.

One other move: Defenseman Nick Holden, playing for minor-league Springfield, will need to be placed on waivers by noon today to be eligible to play for Springfield on Friday.

If he clears, he will remain with the Falcons.

Who’s the guy?

Richard plans to make a decision on his starting goaltender for the season opener by Friday. Sergei Bobrovsky and Steve Mason have had solid camps, he said.

“I don’t see much separation,” Richards said. “With Bobrovsky coming in having played (during the lockout), I was expecting a quicker transition for him, and that’s exactly what we got.With Steve, I wasn’t sure. But to be quite honest with you, I’m extremely pleased with what I’ve seen. They’re both working very hard.”

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